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POSTED ON 7.4.2001, POSTED BY: David Atkinson, "Old Friend" Its July 4, 2001. I was there the day you went down. Didn't find your ship for 30 days. Went to the crash site and looked for you. Found Dobry and McGlothlin, brought them out, looked everywhere for you. Have wondered for years what happened. You and time are the only people who know. You were a true "Light Scout". Think about you every day. Your friend, SP5 David Atkinson, DTrp, 3rd Sqd., 4th Cav., 25th Inf. Div., a fellow "Light Scout".
I flew LOH's and Cobra's in D troop and was a seasoned veteran at the ripe old age of 20 when Andy came to our unit. We became good friends and he often stopped by my hootch during the evenings for a beer, more than likely because I had the only air conditioner in the unit, to my knowledge. Andy was a veteran non-com and Green Beret before he went to flight school to be a pilot and we were all a little bit in awe of his calm demeanor and gentle nature. I have never known anyone I respect more in my life and I hope to see that smirk I remember so well when I meet my maker and get re-introduced to the people I have come to cherish. His last moments, or days, are a mystery to us but I will say that I don't know anyone personally who better exemplifies the spirit and code of ethics that all of us who served as Army Aviators strove to achieve and he is a hero in the true sense of the word. God Bless You and Keep you. Andrew J. Elliott, aka Elli-Goat. Email Address: brethene@gmail.com
Other Comments:
Elliot's been on my mind for several weeks now, and then I just (happily) stumbled across this site entirely by accident. I was a newbie cobra pilot in the same hooch as he. As in all units, newbies got treated poorly by some of the older hands. On one particular occasion, a couple of guys were giving me an especially rough time, really over the top. Elliot, without even raising his voice, just told them to lay off. It never happened again. I've thought of that incident many times over the years & now I finally get to say "Thanks Elliot, that meant a lot to me". Farris Poole Email Address: farris@studio10photo.com.
Description This campaign was from 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970. An increase in enemy-initiated attacks, at the highest level since 4-5 September signaled the start of the first phase of the Communist winter campaign. This was highlighted by intensified harassment incidents, and attacks throughout the Republic of Vietnam. In November-December these were heaviest in Corps Tactical Zones III and IV (around Saigon), primarily directed against Vietnamese military installations in order to disrupt the pacification program. The most significant enemy activity occurred in November with heavy attacks upon By Prang and Duc Lap in CTZ II (Central Vietnam).
By February 1970 the focus of enemy activity began to shift to CTZ I and II. Attacks increased steadily, reaching a peak in April 1970. Hostile forces staged their heaviest attacks in the Central Highlands near Civilian Irregular Defense Group camps at Dak Seang, Dak Pek, and Ben Het in I CTZ. The enemy also conducted numerous attacks by fire and several sapper attacks against U.S. fire support bases. This high level of enemy activity began in I CTZ in April and continued through May.
During the period 1 November 1969 through 30 April 1970 U.S. and allied forces concentrated on aggressive operations to find and destroy enemy main and local forces, the penetration of base camps and installations and the seizure of enemy supplies and materiel. These operations sought to deny the enemy the initiative and to inflict heavy losses in men and materiel. Further progress was made in Vietnamization through improving the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. As a result of these advances three brigades of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division and several major U.S.M.C. units were withdrawn from Vietnam during this period.
The enemy made several efforts to take the offensive at Dak Seang, which was attacked on 1 April 1970 and remained under siege throughout the month, and at Quang Duc in the By Prong-Duc Lap area which ended on 28 December. Only Vietnamese forces were engaged in both of these operations, the Quang Duc campaign involving some 12,000 ARVN troops. South Vietnamese forces again took the offensive on 14 April in a bold 3-day operation in the Angel's Wing area along the Cambodian border. The Vietnamese Army completed this mission in an aggressive professional manner without U.S. support-further evidence of their growing proficiency.